Toggle switch



April 24, 1962 w. T. soRENsoN TOGGLE SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aprils, 1961 mw. JW. FHI# BY a; ATTOR EY April 24, 1962 w. T. soRl-:NsoN

TOGGLE SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1961 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent O Electric, Inc., West Hartford, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 101,132 14 Claims. (Cl. 200-67)This invention relates generally to switches, and more particularly toan improved toggle switch capable of controlling two electricalcircuits.

"The present invention constitutes a single pole toggle switch arrangedto control two electrical circuits in sequence, as follows: centerposition, both circuits ol; one side position, one circuit on; theopposite side position, both circuits on; said electrical conditionsbeing slectable in forward, reverse or mixed sequence.

These functions of the invention are performed, in one embodiment, by acircuit contact lever supported pivotably on a yoke positioned betweentwo contact elements. One of these contact elements constitutes a simplecontact head 'which is connected through the switch case to a suitableterminal lug, and when the lever is in contact therewith, the particularcircuit connected to said lug is closed. The otherof the contactelements has a novel composite structure whereby it may be contacted bythe circuit lever in two positions of the latter, depending upon theselected position of the actuating mechanism for said lever.

When the actuator element for the lever is in the center position, itcauses the circuit lever to be spaced apart from Ithe respective contactelements, thereby maintaining both of the circuits controlled by theswitch in the open circuit condition. By moving the actuating mechanismin one direction from the center-oil? position, the circuit lever ispivotally moved into a position 4where one of itscontact arms makeselectrical connection with only one portion of the composite circuitelement connected to one of the circuits controlled -by the switch whilethe other circuit remains open. When the actuating mechanism is moved inthe opposite direction from the centeroff position, the circuit lever ismoved pivotally to a position where it makes electrical connection lwithanother portion of said composite contact element while said lever alsomakes electrical connection with another contact element connected tothe second electrical circuit. f Thus, the switch 4herein provideseither for the closing of one of twoelectrical circuits only, or forclosing both of said electrical circuits simultaneously. Moreover, thischoice of operation is selectable by the operator of the switch from aneutral center-off position of the actuator and of the circuit leverWhere both of the circuits controlled by the switch are in the opencircuit condition.

The circuit lever is moved from one circuit position to a succeedingcircuit position by operation of a toggle, slide, push, tipper or othertype of actuator mechanism containing a spring actuated pin whichyieldably maintains the lever in any selected one of the various circuitpositions until the pin is moved into another selected circuit position.

The switch of the present invention comprises an arrangement of simplestamped and molded parts which are inexpensive to fabricate and whichare easily assembled. Since the working parts are subjected tocomparatively little stress, the switch is capable of performing forlong periods of time without failure.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention are' set forth herein and will best =be understood, both as totheir fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, byreference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

3,03l,547 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 `ice FIGURE l is a perspective view ofa typical switch asembly embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged vertical section view, taken on line 2 2 ofFIG. l, some parts being shown in elevation and showing the circuitlever in a position where both eliectrical circuits are open;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, except that the toggle element has movedthe control pin into a position where the lever causes the closing ofone circuit only;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, except that the toggle element hasmoved the control pin into a position where the lever causes the closingof two circuits;

FIG. 5 is a still further enlarged view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged view, taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3, someparts being omitted;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 constitute a series of fragmentary views extractedIfrom FIG. 7, showing the different relative positions of the endportion of the circuit lever and its respective contact element, as theyare shown in side view inFIGS. 2, 3 and 4, respectively; I FIG. ll is agreatly enlarged, exploded view of the yoke and circuit `leverelement-s, as well as one of the cornposite contact elements formingpart of the mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a lfragmentary view showing a contact element somewhatmodiiied in form from that shown in the previous iigures.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the switch of the presentinvention comprises a box-like molded case, generally designated 21,made of a suitable electrically insulating material such as syntheticAresin, Bakelite, or the like, and having a pair of opposing end walls22, and a pair of side walls 23. The bottom vof case 21 is enclosed by aoor 24. A p The open top of case 21 is covered by a top plate 25 made ofa suitable material such as sheet metal, or the like, and whose ends aresubstantially co-extensive with the outer surfaces of respective endwalls 22. The sides of vtop plate 25 4are recessed to coincide withrecesses 26 in the outer surfaces of side walls 23 of case 21. See FIGS.5 and 6. Top plate 25 has a central aperture 27 through which variousswitch actuating elements project, as will be described hereinbclow.

i Positioned over topplate Z5 is a bracket 31 of sheet metal, which hasa central, circular aperture coaxial with aperture 27 in plate 25.Bracket 31 has a pair of opposed downwardly extending leaves 32 whichtit within respective recesses'26 of side walls 23. The lower end ofeach leaf 32 is provided with a pair of spaced apart lugs 33 whichtensionally-grasp respective recesses, not shown, in the bottom surfaceof door 24 to cause bracket 31 to secure top plate 25 firmly on the topof case 21.

' A tubular threaded bushing A36 is secured at its lower end by suitablemeans, such as a force lit or the like, between top plate 25 and bracket31 at the inner peripheral areas surrounding their respective centralapertures for firm connection to case 21.

The interior wall of bushing 36 has an inwardly curving annular shoulder37 intermediate its ends, said shoulder being adapted to cooperate witha toggle or actuator element 38, a portion of whose surface is curved tomate movably with said shoulder, whereby said toggle may move pivotallyrelative to said bushing. Toggle 38 has an upwardly extending handle 39for manual operation, and a lower tubular extension 41. Handle 39 has abore 42, toggle 38 has a bore 43, and tube 41 has a bore 44, all of saidbores being axially aligned and longitudinally accommodating anelongated control pin 45 which is normally urged outwardly from bore 44by captive spring 46 within said bores. Control pin 45 is made of asuitable Positioned in floor 24 of case 21 is a pair of spaced apart,electrically conducting studs 51 and 52 which extend through said floorand are secured therein by means of molding or the like. Stud 51 has anelectrically conducting contact head 53 and stud 52 has an electricallyconducting Contact head 54, which extend into the interior of case 2l.The lower ends of said studs on the outer surface of floor 24 have rivetheads 55 and 56, respectively, to which are rmly secured electricallyconductive brackets 57 `and 58. Brackets 57 and 58 have downwardlyextending electrically conducting lugs 61 and 62, respectively, whichserve as terminals to which separate electrical circuits areconnectible.

Positioned `intermediate studs 51 and `52 is an electrically conductingstud 63 which also extends through oor 24 and is secured therein bymeans of molding or the like` The lower end of stud 63 extendsdownwardly :to the exterior of case 21 and has a rivet head 64 whichfirmly secures an electrically conductive bracket 65 to thebottom ofsaid case. Bracket 65 has a downwardly extending lug 66 which serves asa terminal to which an electrical circuit is connectible that is commonto the other ftwo circuits that are controllable by the switch herein.The upper end of stud 63 extends into the interior of case 21 andthrough a central aperture in the base of an electrically conductingsupport or yoke 67. Stud 63 has a rivet head 69 which secures yoke 67 tothe oor 24 of case 21.

Yoke 67 has a pair of upwardly extending spaced apart arms 47.?. each ofwhich terminates in a pair of spaced apart, shortV lingers 73ay and 74.Between each pair of lingers 73 and 74, on each of arms 72 are shoulders76 and 77, respectively, which serve as spaced apart fulcrums for anelectrically conductive circuit contact lever, generally` designated 78,freely supported pivotally thereon. V-shaped circuit lever 78 has a pairof integral lever arms f 81 and 82 extending in opposite directions andarrayed at an angle relative to each other.

Lever arms 81 and 82 are joined by an integral, central,

slightly arcuate portion 83 which is slightly extended laterally and ispositioned between upwardly extending arms 72 of yoke 67. Connected tothe outer end portion of lever arm 81 is a contact button 84, which,upon pivoting action of lever 78, makes or breaks an electrical circuitinV respect of contact head 54. See FIGS. 2-5, and ll.`

Secured by contact head 53 of st-ud 51 to case 21 is the base of anintegral circuitcontact element 86 made of a suitable electricallyconductive, resilient sheet metal. Contact element 86 has a pair-ofupwardly extending arms 87 and 8-8 which have inwardly extendingshoulders c apex portion 83 of the circuit lever 78 whereby said leverrests symmetrically on both shoulders 76 and 77 of yoke 67, neithercontact arm 81 nor arm S2 is in a circuit closing position with itsrespective Contact head 540i' 53, so that both of the circuitscontrolled by the switch are in the open or olf condition. ,It will alsobe noted from FIGS. 2 and 9 that contact arm'82 is spaced apart from anddoes not bear against any portion Y of circuit contact element S6.

When toggle handle 39 is moved to the left as repre.

sented in FIGS. 3, 5, '7 and 8, and nib, d? moves to the right slidingover and onto contact arm 82, the latter is caused to move downwardlyand bear against Contact head 53 and to close the electrical circuitbetween terminais 61 and V66, said Vcontact arm 82 forming an electricalconductive bridge between Contact head Sil-tand` In the position ofcircuit lever between terminals 62 and V66,saidcontact arm 81 forma ingan electrically conductive bridge between contact head -54 and shoulder76 of yoke 67; Y j

As shown in FIG. 4, when contact arm 82 is raised to the position thatit occupies in the illustrations of FiGS. V4 and l0, it bears againstand makeselectrical connection with lingers 93 4and 94 of circuitcontact element 86, thereby closing the electrical circuit-.betweenterminals 61 and 66. Thus, in the position of the ele-V ments of' theswitch shown in FIGS. 4 and l0,` both cir'- cuits connected to therespective terminals 61 and 62 are in the closed or on condition. I, A

In an alternative embodiment of the switch herein, the double fingeredcontact element 86 may bewreplaced by a single lingered integral contactelement 101', made of resilient sheet metal or the` like, and connectedto stud 15, as shown in FIG. l2, for example; `In' this embodiment,contact element 101 has an upwardly extending Aarm 102, an inwardly'extending shoulder 103,` and an upwardly extending finger 104.y Whencontact karm 82is raised to the position shown in FIGSI4, 10 and 1,2,`the resilience inherent in finger 104 maintains `a closed electricalcircuit condition between itself and said contact arm.

It will be noted that contact head 53 and contact lingers 93 and 94 forman electrically integral composite contact element with which contactarm 82 makes elec-` trical connection at two positions of the latter aslever 78 is moved pivotally. FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and'lO. Inter` mediate saidtwopositions, contact arm 82 is spaced apart from said composite Contactelement and is in the open circuit position relative to saidcompositecontact clement, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9. Contact armS1 is arrayed relative to arm 82 in such a manner that arm 81 closes theelectrical circuit connected to terminal lug 62, when arm 82 is in' onlyone of its circuit closing positions as exemplified in FIGS. 4 and l0.By'virtue of the arrangement of componentparts herein, itis possible tofabricate 'a simple and inexpensive center-off,

switch forlcontrolling two electrical circuits in the manner describedhereinabove.

In an alternative embodiment, the composite contact element with whichcontact arm 82 cooperates may take fthe form of two separate spacedapart contact elements positioned Within case 21, Saidelements beingelectrically connected tol each other or to a com-mon terminal lug 61 bymeans of a wire lead line, a stud, or the like.- I

In a'further embodiment, said `composite contact ele-` v first andsecond spaced apart circuit contact elements in `said case, an auxiliarycontact element connected to said second contact element, anelectrically conductive support yoke positioned in said caseintermediate said first and second contact elements, an electricallyconductive lever mounted pivotably on said yoke, a first contact arm onsaid lever movable into contact with and apart from said first contactelement, a second contact arm on said lever movable into contact withand apart from a selected one of said second contact element and saidauxiliary contact element, an actuator element mounted in said case andoperative upon said lever to position the latter in any one of threepositions, as follows: (a) neither contact arm is in electricalconnection with any of said contact elements and said auxiliary contactelement; (b) said second contact arm only is in electrical connectionwith said second contact element and said first contact arm is spacedapart from said first contact element; and (c) said second contact armis in electrical connection with said auxiliary contact element and saidfirst contact arm is in electrical connection with said first contactelement.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said lever and said actuatorelement are centrally arrayed in respect of said case and of saidcontact elements when said lever is in position a, and said lever ispivoted by said actuator element in one direction relative to said yokein position b and is pivoted in the opposite direction relative to saidyoke in position c.

3. A switch according to claim 1, and further comprising a pair ofspaced apart shoulders on said yoke and wherein said lever rests on bothof said shoulders when said lever is in position a, said second contactarm rests on one of said shoulders and on said second contact element inposition b, and said first contact arm rests on the other of saidshoulders and on said rst contact element when said lever is in positionc.

4. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said lever and said actuatorelement are centrally arrayed in respect of said case and of saidcontact elements and said contact arms are spaced apart from theirrespective contact elements when said lever is in position a, and saidlever is pivoted by said actuator element in one direction relative tosaid yoke to cause said second contact arm to be urged into electricalconnection with said second contact element while said first contact armis spaced apart from said first contact element when said lever is inposition b and said lever is pivoted by said actuator element in theopposite direction relative to said yoke to cause said first contact armto be urged into electrical connection with said first contact elementwhile said second contact arm is urged into electrical connection withsaid auxiliary contact element when said lever is in position c.

5. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said lever is V-shaped and saidactuator element is operative resiliently upon said lever to urge thelatter into any one of said three positions selectively.

6. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said lever is V-shaped and saidactuator element is operative resiliently upon said lever to urge thelatter into any one of said three positions selectively, said actuatorelement being positioned at the apex of said lever when the latter is inposition a.

7. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary contact elementis made of a resilient material and is biased in a manner as to maintainelectrical contact with said first contact arm during position c only ofsaid lever.

8. A switch comprising a case, rst and second spaced apart circuitcontact elements in said case, a support yoke positioned intermediatesaid first and second contact elements, an electrically conductive leverpivotally mounted on said yoke and movable into any one of threepositions, a first contact arm on said lever movable into contact withand apart from said first contact element, a second contact arrn on saidlever movable into three positions relative to said second contactelement, said second contact arm making electrical connection with saidsecond contact element only at two of its three positions and beingspaced apart from said second contact element when said second contactarm is in a position intermediate said two positions, said first contactarm being'integrally connected to and arrayed relative to said secondcontact arm in such manner that said first contact arm makes electricalconnection with said first contact element only when said second contactarm is in only one of said two positions.

9. yA switch according to claim 8 wherein said yoke is electricallyconductive, and further comprising means for connecting said contactelements and said yoke to respective electrical circuits to becontrolled by said switch.

l0. A switch according to claim 8, and further comprising an.actuator-element mounted on said case and operative to impart pivotingmotion to said lever, said actuator element being movable into anyselected one of three positions corresponding to the three positions ofsaid lever, said actuator when in the intermediate of its threepositions causing said first and second contact arms of said lever to bespaced apart from their respective contact elements in the open circuitposition.

l1. A switch comprising a case, a support yoke positioned in said case,an electrically conductive lever pivotally mounted on said yoke .andmovable into any one of three positions, a first contact arm on saidlever, a second contact arm on said lever, a pair of spaced apartcontact elements positioned in said case, said pair of contact elementsbeing electrically connected to a common circuit, said first contact armmaking electrical connection with a seiected one of said pair of contactelements in two of its positions and in a third of its positions beingpositioned intermediate said pair ofcontact elements in the open circuitcondition, a third contact element in said case, said second contact armmovable into contact with andapart from said third contact element, saidsecond contact arm establishing electrical connection with said thirdcontact element only when said first contact arm establishes electricalconnection with only one of said pair of contact elements.

l2. A switch according to claim 11, and further comprising an actuatingmechanism mounted in said case, a resilient member on said actuatingmechanism operative upon said lever whereby the movement of saidactuating mechanism into any one of three positions causes the pivotingaction of said lever into three corresponding positions.

13. A switch according to claim 11, and further cornprising anelectrical connection between said pair of spaced apart contactelements, said electrical connection being spaced apart from thetraverse path of said first contact arm during its movement from one ofsaid pair of contacts to the other.

14.- A switch according to claim 11, .and further comprising anactuating mechanism mounted in said case, a connection between saidactuating mechanism and said lever, said actuating mechanism operativein three of its positions through said connection to cause the pivotingaction of said lever into three corresponding positions, the location ofsaid actuating mechanism in the intermediate of its three positionscausing said lever to be located in a position where both of thecircuits controlled by said switch are in the open circuit condition.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

